Ducks Eatery

Courtesy Ducks Eatery

Why?House jerky and watermelon gimlets.

A single word makes all the difference. If you’re a sitting duck, you’d better watch your back. If you’re sitting with a duck, you’re probably bathing. If you’re sitting at Ducks Eatery, there’s a mint julep in one hand and a pig ear lettuce wrap in the other. The East Village restaurant is run by a brother-sister duo formerly of late-night Ping-Pong spot Spin NYC, and what they’re cooking here has a French-Creole bent: spicy beef jerky juiced with fish sauce, North Fork cherrystone clams served with a kaffir-ham granita, the aforementioned pig ear wraps with hot sauce and pickled cabbage. Cocktails like the watermelon gimlet and mezcal paloma are similarly funky and fresh. Now if you’ll excuse us, you’re sitting on our duck.